diff --git a/backend/src/constants/base-configuration.ts b/backend/src/constants/base-configuration.ts
index 60063b733..9664f9cc2 100644
--- a/backend/src/constants/base-configuration.ts
+++ b/backend/src/constants/base-configuration.ts
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ export const BASE_CONFIGURATION: Configuration = {
     },
   },
   connections: { enabled: false, maxPerUser: 100 },
+  tribe: { enabled: false },
 };
 
 type BaseSchema = {
@@ -615,5 +616,12 @@ export const CONFIGURATION_FORM_SCHEMA: ObjectSchema<Configuration> = {
         },
       },
     },
+    tribe: {
+      type: "object",
+      label: "Tribe (Multiplayer)",
+      fields: {
+        enabled: { type: "boolean", label: "Enabled" },
+      },
+    },
   },
 };
diff --git a/frontend/src/html/header.html b/frontend/src/html/header.html
index ea2cee793..f2cd6525c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/html/header.html
+++ b/frontend/src/html/header.html
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@
       </div>
     </a>
     <a
-      class="textButton view-tribe"
+      class="textButton view-tribe hidden"
       href="/tribe"
-      onclick="this.blur();"
+      onclick="this.blur()"
       router-link
       title="tribe"
     >
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@
         <i class="fas fa-fw fa-cog"></i>
       </div>
     </a>
-    <div></div>
+    <div class="spacer"></div>
     <button class="text showAlerts" onclick="this.blur()">
       <div class="icon">
         <i class="fas fa-fw fa-bell"></i>
diff --git a/frontend/src/html/pages/settings.html b/frontend/src/html/pages/settings.html
index 8652b5288..17268b7e2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/html/pages/settings.html
+++ b/frontend/src/html/pages/settings.html
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
         <i class="fas icon fa-keyboard"></i>
         input
       </a>
-      <a class="textButton" href="#group_tribe">
+      <a class="textButton hidden" href="#group_tribe">
         <i class="fas icon fa-satellite"></i>
         tribe
       </a>
@@ -654,11 +654,11 @@
     <div id="ad-settings-2-small"></div>
   </div>
 
-  <button id="group_tribe" class="text sectionGroupTitle" group="tribe">
+  <button id="group_tribe" class="text sectionGroupTitle hidden" group="tribe">
     <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i>
     tribe
   </button>
-  <div class="settingsGroup tribe1">
+  <div class="settingsGroup tribe hidden">
     <div class="section" data-config-name="tribeDelta">
       <div class="groupTitle">
         <i class="fas fa-exchange-alt"></i>
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles/nav.scss b/frontend/src/styles/nav.scss
index 63f933608..d9c7be3d1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles/nav.scss
+++ b/frontend/src/styles/nav.scss
@@ -2,14 +2,13 @@ nav {
   font-size: 1rem;
   line-height: 1rem;
   color: var(--sub-color);
-  display: grid;
-  grid-auto-flow: column;
+  display: flex;
   gap: 0.5rem;
-  // margin-bottom: -0.4rem;
-  width: -moz-fit-content;
-  width: fit-content;
   width: 100%;
-  grid-template-columns: auto auto auto auto auto 1fr auto;
+
+  .spacer {
+    flex-grow: 1;
+  }
 
   button.showAlerts {
     position: relative;
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/commandline/lists/tribe-carets.ts b/frontend/src/ts/commandline/lists/tribe-carets.ts
index 36b316a4b..cb7ba2bad 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/commandline/lists/tribe-carets.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/commandline/lists/tribe-carets.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import * as UpdateConfig from "../../config";
 import { Command, CommandsSubgroup } from "../types";
+import { isTribeEnabled } from "../../utils/misc";
 
 const subgroup: CommandsSubgroup = {
   title: "Tribe carets...",
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ const commands: Command[] = [
     display: "Tribe carets...",
     icon: "fa-i-cursor",
     subgroup,
+    available: (): boolean => isTribeEnabled(),
   },
 ];
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/commandline/lists/tribe-delta.ts b/frontend/src/ts/commandline/lists/tribe-delta.ts
index dacce4eaa..c375dd2a8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/commandline/lists/tribe-delta.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/commandline/lists/tribe-delta.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import * as UpdateConfig from "../../config";
 import { Command, CommandsSubgroup } from "../types";
+import { isTribeEnabled } from "../../utils/misc";
 
 const subgroup: CommandsSubgroup = {
   title: "Tribe delta...",
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ const commands: Command[] = [
     display: "Tribe delta...",
     icon: "fa-exchange-alt",
     subgroup,
+    available: (): boolean => isTribeEnabled(),
   },
 ];
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/config-metadata.ts b/frontend/src/ts/config-metadata.ts
index 7dd6aa3b5..f84eaac8e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/config-metadata.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/config-metadata.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import * as DB from "./db";
 import * as Notifications from "./elements/notifications";
 import { isAuthenticated } from "./firebase";
 import { canSetFunboxWithConfig } from "./test/funbox/funbox-validation";
-import { isDevEnvironment, reloadAfter } from "./utils/misc";
+import { isDevEnvironment, isTribeEnabled, reloadAfter } from "./utils/misc";
 import * as ConfigSchemas from "@monkeytype/schemas/configs";
 import { roundTo1 } from "@monkeytype/util/numbers";
 import { capitalizeFirstLetter } from "./utils/strings";
@@ -209,12 +209,18 @@ export const configMetadata: ConfigMetadataObject = {
     displayString: "tribe delta",
     changeRequiresRestart: false,
     group: "tribe",
+    isBlocked: () => {
+      return !isTribeEnabled();
+    },
   },
   tribeCarets: {
     icon: "fa-users",
     displayString: "tribe carets",
     changeRequiresRestart: false,
     group: "tribe",
+    isBlocked: () => {
+      return !isTribeEnabled();
+    },
   },
 
   // behavior
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/controllers/route-controller.ts b/frontend/src/ts/controllers/route-controller.ts
index e462e9400..24f03050b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/controllers/route-controller.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/controllers/route-controller.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import * as Notifications from "../elements/notifications";
 import tribeSocket from "../tribe/tribe-socket";
 import { setAutoJoin } from "../tribe/tribe-auto-join";
 import * as NavigationEvent from "../observables/navigation-event";
+import { isTribeEnabled } from "../utils/misc";
 
 //source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OstALBk-jTc
 // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OstALBk-jTc
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ const routes: Route[] = [
         return;
       }
 
-      if (TribeState.getState() >= 5) {
+      if (isTribeEnabled() && TribeState.getState() >= 5) {
         if (TribeState.getState() === 22 && TribeState.getSelf()?.isLeader) {
           tribeSocket.out.room.backToLobby();
         } else {
@@ -176,6 +177,11 @@ const routes: Route[] = [
   {
     path: "/tribe",
     load: async (params, options): Promise<void> => {
+      if (!isTribeEnabled()) {
+        await navigate("/", options);
+        return;
+      }
+
       if (options?.tribeOverride === true) {
         await PageController.change("tribe", {
           tribeOverride: options?.tribeOverride ?? false,
@@ -198,7 +204,12 @@ const routes: Route[] = [
   },
   {
     path: "/tribe/:roomId",
-    load: async (params): Promise<void> => {
+    load: async (params, options): Promise<void> => {
+      if (!isTribeEnabled()) {
+        await navigate("/", options);
+        return;
+      }
+
       setAutoJoin(params["roomId"] as string);
       await PageController.change("tribe", {
         force: true,
@@ -215,6 +226,7 @@ export async function navigate(
   options = {} as NavigationEvent.NavigateOptions,
 ): Promise<void> {
   if (
+    isTribeEnabled() &&
     TribeState.getState() > 5 &&
     TribeState.getState() < 22 &&
     !options?.tribeOverride
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/pages/settings.ts b/frontend/src/ts/pages/settings.ts
index c29c404ce..c46bddad9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/pages/settings.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/pages/settings.ts
@@ -251,8 +251,10 @@ async function initGroups(): Promise<void> {
     "customBackgroundSize",
     "button",
   );
-  groups["tribeDelta"] = new SettingsGroup("tribeDelta", "button");
-  groups["tribeCarets"] = new SettingsGroup("tribeCarets", "button");
+  if (Misc.isTribeEnabled()) {
+    groups["tribeDelta"] = new SettingsGroup("tribeDelta", "button");
+    groups["tribeCarets"] = new SettingsGroup("tribeCarets", "button");
+  }
 }
 
 async function fillSettingsPage(): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/ready.ts b/frontend/src/ts/ready.ts
index d0ca342bc..4377af03e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/ready.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/ready.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { getActiveFunboxesWithFunction } from "./test/funbox/list";
 import { configLoadPromise } from "./config";
 import { authPromise } from "./firebase";
 import { animate } from "animejs";
-import { onDocumentReady, qs } from "./utils/dom";
+import { onDocumentReady, qs, qsa } from "./utils/dom";
 
 onDocumentReady(async () => {
   await configLoadPromise;
@@ -44,6 +44,18 @@ onDocumentReady(async () => {
       if (!ServerConfiguration.get()?.connections.enabled) {
         qs(".accountButtonAndMenu .goToFriends")?.addClass("hidden");
       }
+      if (Misc.isTribeEnabled()) {
+        qs("header nav .textButton.view-tribe")?.removeClass("hidden");
+        for (const el of qsa(".pageSettings [group='tribe']")) {
+          el.removeClass("hidden");
+        }
+        for (const el of qsa(".pageSettings .settingsGroup.tribe")) {
+          el.removeClass("hidden");
+        }
+        qs(
+          ".pageSettings .settingsGroup.quickNav button[href='#group_tribe']",
+        )?.removeClass("hidden");
+      }
     });
   }
   MonkeyPower.init();
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/tribe/tribe.ts b/frontend/src/ts/tribe/tribe.ts
index 7cd688fa4..ccf194d24 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/tribe/tribe.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/tribe/tribe.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,12 @@ import * as Random from "../utils/random";
 import TribeSocket from "./tribe-socket";
 import * as ActivePage from "../states/active-page";
 import * as TribeState from "./tribe-state";
-import { escapeRegExp, escapeHTML, isDevEnvironment } from "../utils/misc";
+import {
+  escapeRegExp,
+  escapeHTML,
+  isTribeEnabled,
+  isDevEnvironment,
+} from "../utils/misc";
 import * as Time from "../states/time";
 import * as TestWords from "../test/test-words";
 import * as TestStats from "../test/test-stats";
@@ -119,6 +124,8 @@ function updateState(newState: number): void {
 }
 
 export async function init(): Promise<void> {
+  if (!isTribeEnabled()) return;
+
   TribePagePreloader.updateIcon("circle-notch", true);
   // TribePagePreloader.updateText("Waiting for login");
   // await AccountController.authPromise;
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/types/virtual-env-config.d.ts b/frontend/src/ts/types/virtual-env-config.d.ts
index 0f2d1b465..66d0f559c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/types/virtual-env-config.d.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/types/virtual-env-config.d.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ export type EnvConfig = {
   recaptchaSiteKey: string;
   quickLoginEmail: string | undefined;
   quickLoginPassword: string | undefined;
+  forceTribe: boolean;
 };
 
 declare module "virtual:env-config" {
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/utils/misc.ts b/frontend/src/ts/utils/misc.ts
index f56f135c0..441bbb09c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/utils/misc.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/utils/misc.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import * as Loader from "../elements/loader";
 import * as Random from "../utils/random";
 import { envConfig } from "virtual:env-config";
+import * as ServerConfiguration from "../ape/server-configuration";
 import { lastElementFromArray } from "./arrays";
 import { Config } from "@monkeytype/schemas/configs";
 import { Mode, Mode2, PersonalBests } from "@monkeytype/schemas/shared";
@@ -492,6 +493,11 @@ export function isDevEnvironment(): boolean {
   return envConfig.isDevelopment;
 }
 
+export function isTribeEnabled(): boolean {
+  if (envConfig.forceTribe) return true;
+  return ServerConfiguration.get()?.tribe?.enabled ?? false;
+}
+
 export function zipfyRandomArrayIndex(dictLength: number): number {
   /**
    * get random index based on probability distribution of Zipf's law,
diff --git a/frontend/vite-plugins/env-config.ts b/frontend/vite-plugins/env-config.ts
index c0088a7d0..882090991 100644
--- a/frontend/vite-plugins/env-config.ts
+++ b/frontend/vite-plugins/env-config.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ export function envConfig(options: {
           recaptchaSiteKey: "6LeIxAcTAAAAAJcZVRqyHh71UMIEGNQ_MXjiZKhI",
           quickLoginEmail: options.env["QUICK_LOGIN_EMAIL"],
           quickLoginPassword: options.env["QUICK_LOGIN_PASSWORD"],
+          forceTribe: options.env["FORCE_TRIBE"] === "true",
         };
 
         const prodConfig: EnvConfig = {
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ export function envConfig(options: {
           quickLoginEmail: undefined,
           quickLoginPassword: undefined,
           clientVersion: options.clientVersion,
+          forceTribe: options.env["FORCE_TRIBE"] === "true",
         };
 
         const envConfig = options.isDevelopment ? devConfig : prodConfig;
diff --git a/packages/schemas/src/configuration.ts b/packages/schemas/src/configuration.ts
index af4539881..7bba44031 100644
--- a/packages/schemas/src/configuration.ts
+++ b/packages/schemas/src/configuration.ts
@@ -127,5 +127,8 @@ export const ConfigurationSchema = z.object({
     enabled: z.boolean(),
     maxPerUser: z.number().int().nonnegative(),
   }),
+  tribe: z.object({
+    enabled: z.boolean(),
+  }),
 });
 export type Configuration = z.infer<typeof ConfigurationSchema>;